Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure

Greece

Country Report: Differential treatment of specific nationalities in the procedure Last updated: 30/05/22

Author

Greek Council for Refugees Visit Website

Since 2014 up until the first half of 2021, Syrians and stateless persons were eligible to a fast-track procedure examining their cases and often resulting in the granting of refugee status. This applied to those with a former residence in Syria who could provide original documents such as passports, or who had been identified as Syrians/persons with a former residence in Syria within the scope of the Reception and Identification Procedure; provided that the EU-Turkey Statement and the Fast track border procedure did not apply to their cases.

However, the Joint Ministerial Decision 42799/2021 issued in June 2021, pursuant to Article 86 of L. 4636/2019, established that  Turkey is to be considered safe for applicants from Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Somalia.  As a result, applications lodged by nationals of the above-mentioned countries are now channeled into the admissibility procedure upon arrival, to assess whether Turkey is a safe third country and whether their cases are admissible and should be examined on the merits.

Also, although the fast-track border procedure was initially introduced as an exceptional and temporary procedure, it has become the rule for the applicants residing in Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros, and Kos.

Table of contents

  • Statistics
  • Overview of the legal framework
  • Overview of the main changes since the previous report update
  • Asylum Procedure
  • Reception Conditions
  • Detention of Asylum Seekers
  • Content of International Protection
  • ANNEX I – Transposition of the CEAS in national legislation